Back brush



v 1956 H. P. GARZELLONI 2,757,399

BACK BRUSH Filed NOV. 19, 1955 INVENTOR. EEMIUZ 6 0m);

United States Patent BACK BRUSH Bernice P. Garzelloni, Covina, Calif.Application November 19, 1953, Serial No. 393,077 2 Claims. (Cl. 15-160)This invention relates to back brushes, and has as an object theprovision of a brush which can be used to reach ordinarily inaccessibleareas of the body.

A further object is to provide a construction which eliminates thepossibility of injuring the skin by contact with exposed hard parts ofthe brush. An allied object is to provide means for spreading substancesover the body.

A feature of the invention resides in a multi-element brush which issurrounded by bristles on all sides and has flexible straps extendingfrom opposite ends of the brush. The structure of the brush and meansfor attachment of the straps are so constructed and disposed that allhard parts are held away from contact with the body when the brush isused. A related optional feature resides in a cover for the brush bymeans of which substances may be spread over the body.

A brush with flexible straps attached is not new in itself. However,prior devices of this nature have been so constructed that bristlescould he placed on but one side of the brush assembly, and the hardsupporting structure of the brush could therefore contact and scratchthe body. This resulted in an inconvenient device. The instant inventionavoids these difiiculties, and provides a brush which may be usedwithout any precautions, or cares as to its position.

These and other features of the invention will be fully understood fromthe following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, ofwhich:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a brush according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail, in plan view, of a means for attachment of a strapto the brush structure;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail, in plan view, of a means for attaching an optionalform of strap to the brush; and

Fig. 5 is an isometric view particularly illustrating a cover for thebrush.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a brush according to the invention withthree individual brush elements 11, 12, 13, disposed in a single plane.These brush elements are of conventional manufacture, wherein thebristles are held between two twisted wires, and have bristles on allsides thereof. The ends of outer elements 11 and 13 are bent so as tomeet the ends of brush 12 at right angles.

Two flexible straps 14, 15 which may be of cloth or plastic have a hole25 near one end, and a loop 16, 17 for a handhold at the other. Onestrap is then fixed to each end of element 12 by inserting the end ofthe brush element into the hole 25. The brush structure itself is thenassembled by means of a clamp 18, which has three tubular arms 19, 20,21, One of these clamps and one flexible strap will thus be provided ateach end of the bI'LlSh. As best shown in Fig. 3, arms 19 and 21, whichare to receive brush elements 11 and 13 respectively, are formed byfolding a metal plate so as to create the tubes 19 and 21, and thencrimping the ends of the plate so as to form wings 22, 23. Tubular arm20, in the center, is

2,757,399 Patented Aug. 7, 1956 t 2 conveniently formed by stampingchannels into opposite sides of the plate, and a hole 23a at the middlebefore "the plate is folded. This hole will be in the edge of the foldwhen the plate is folded. All tubular arms are then open at both ends toreceive the ends of the brush elements.

The ends of the brushes are next inserted into the tubular arms asshown, and areheld therein by dimpling each arm of the clamp. as at 24.Each strap isthen folded back over the clamp and sewed as at 26. Theclamp, and all structure not protected by bristles are thus covered bythe flexible strap.

Fig. 4 shows an alternate and simpler form of strap, and one which isparticularly useful as a replacement when the orignal strap is worn out.While this strap may also be made of cloth, it is conveniently made ofsome fusible plastic material. This optional strap is a strip 27 havinga pair of split tabs 28, 29 on one end. These tabs are bent around thearms of the clamp, one on each side of the center arm 20, and are fusedor sewed to the back side of the strip.

Fig. 5 illustrates a smooth cover 30 for this brush by means of whichunguents and the like may be spread over the skin. The cover comprises atop surface member 31, which may preferably be made of chamois or somesoft cloth, a side member 32 stitched to the top member, and an elasticband 33 around the lower edge of the side member. Holes 34 at each endpermit straps to be pulled through the cover without interfering withthe side member. The elastic band holds the cover in place over thebristles. When it is desired to spread substances over the body, thiscover is simply stretched over the brush, and the substance applied tothe cover. This cover thus covers at least half of the bristles.

In use, one strap is held in each hand, and the brush is pulled back andforth. This brush is suited for reaching parts of the body which areinaccessible with conventional wooden-handled brushes. This isparticularly advantageous to crippled and obese people. With the coveron, a person may give himself a complete alcohol rub, or spread lotionsor powders, as preferred. The convenient construction provides a brushwhich is also useful without the straps, for the straps do not interferewith the brush, as does a wooden handle, for example. The constructionis light and flexible, and is well suited for travelling.

The unique construction provides a brush with bristles on all sides. Itwill be noted that all metal parts, or parts which might scratch orabrade the skin, are held away from the skin, either by the bristles orby the covering action of the strap. There is thus no danger ofscratching the skin by placing the wrong side of the brush next to thebody, since all sides are alike. The user thus need take no care as tothe orientation of the brush faces.

My invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the drawings, anddescribed in the description, which are by way of example and not oflimitation, but only in accordance with the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. A back brush' comprising a plurality of brush elements havingbristles on all sides thereof, two clamps for joining the said brushelements at their ends, each clamp comprising a metal strip bent to forma fold and also wings adjacent to the fold and to each other, an end oftwo of the brush elements being retained in the fold of each clamp sothat the said two brush elements project from the clamps in oppositedirections from each other, said clamps each having a hole in the edgeof the fold to receive the end of a third one of said brush elements,the wings being pressed together to hold an end of the said third brushelement therebetween, rected away from said brush elements, one end ofeach said wings being dibrush element being inserted into each .clamp,and two flexible straps, each of saidstraps having a hole spaced fromthe end thereof through which the said third brush ielement passes,aeachiof said :clamps having one ofsaid 'str-aps foldedithereovervandfastened solas to'form a loop oventhe :c'l'ampsto substantially lcoversaid clamp.

,2. back brushcomprising a plurality of brush elements :having bristleson all sides thereof, two clamps for joining the said brush elements attheir ends, each clamp comprising ametal strip :bent'to form a fold andalso Wings adjacent to the 'fold and toleach other, an end of two of':-the brush. elements being retained in the 3-fold of each clamp ;so'that the :said :two brush elementsproject from the clamp in opposite:directions .from each other, said clamps each having a hole in the edgeof the fold to re- .ceive thei'end of za tliirdtone of said brushelements, the wings being pressed :together to hold an endof the said:third brush element Stherebetween, said wings being di rected "awayfrom said ibnlsh elements,-one end of each brush element being insertedinto each clamp, and two References Cited in the file of this patentUNITED STATES -PATENTS 916,071 Watanabe Mar. 23, 1909 1,735,278Hert-zberg Nov. 12, 1929 2,301,586 Rubin Nov. 10, 1942 2,308,514Johnston Jan. 19, 1943 2,439,249 Hickman Apr. 6, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS185 Great Britain Sept. 12, 1912

